Hinsdale Central hosts its annual Salute to Service football game against Lyons Township on Friday, Sept. 11, marking the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a 7 p.m. pre-game ceremony honoring active-duty military members, veterans and first responders, The Hinsdalean reported. Kickoff against unbeaten Lyons Township follows at 7:30 p.m.
Cornelison, a dramatic tenor who has sung the anthem full-time for the Blackhawks since the 2007-08 season, performed the same role at Soldier Field on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011. He is the son of World War II veterans.
Hinsdale Central Athletic Director Mike Jezioro said the observance gives the school a chance to honor service members and show students what sacrifice looks like beyond athletics. He said the tribute helps bring the community together and reinforce values the school wants students to carry with them.
Among those being honored: U.S. Air Force Sgt. Lori Collins, who served from 1986 to 1991 and is the mother of two Hinsdale Central students; Capt. Matthew Foley, a U.S. Army chaplain from 2008 to 2013; and Hinsdale Central alum Robb Svendsen, recognized posthumously for his service in the U.S. Navy.
Foley said the anniversary is personal. He had three friends in the Twin Towers and a college roommate, a U.S. Army Green Beret, serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. All survived. Foley later deployed to Afghanistan himself.
Debbie Svendsen, Robb's wife, said her late husband would have loved the tribute. "What could be better than being honored for the country you served and loved on the field where you once played football," she said.
The game itself carries competitive stakes. Lyons Township (3-0) rolled past Morton 48-0 on Saturday, Sept. 5, while Hinsdale Central (2-1, 0-1 West Suburban Silver) was shut out 28-0 by Downers Grove North on Friday, Sept. 4, according to Shaw Local's Week 4 preview. The Red Devils beat Lyons 29-26 last season, their first win in the series since 2021.
Hinsdale Central leans on senior DE/TE Tommy Riordan, an Iowa commit rated among the top 20 seniors in Illinois. Senior WR/DB James Skokna caught 53 passes for 769 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Lyons counters with senior RB EJ Kuhlman, who rushed for 1,104 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Gates open before the 7 p.m. ceremony. Active military, veterans and first responders can still RSVP through a form linked on the Hinsdale Central athletics page.
